














0^ V'^'-y^ "°^'-"^'"/ 




^^^^^^-r^c^ .^^.^^c*^.--*-.^-*-^ ^ I 




ADDRESS 



BY 



HON. WALTER CLARK, 



vssociATfc: Justice of the Supreme Court, 



ON 



THE LIFE AND SERVICES 



OF 



GKN. WILLIAM R. DAYIK, 



At the Guilford Battle-Ground, 



JULY 4th, 1892. 



Published by the Guilford Battle-Ground Company. 



GREENSBORO: 
REECE AND ELAM, PRINTERS, 




\ 



AX ADDRESS 



UPON 



THE LIFE AND SERVICES 



OF 



GKN. WILLIAM R. DAVIK 



" A Great Man in an Age of Great Men." 



/ 



BY WALTER CLARK. 

}i 

,^|lV OF C0h3iff(. 

1892 



Delivered at the Celebration on the Battle-Field of 
Guilford Court House. 



4th JULY, 1892. 



My Fellow Countrymen : 

From the burning bush on Horeb's Mount came the 
voice, " Put off thy shoes from off thy feet for the place 
whereon thou standest is holy ground." That place was 
for the moment sacred from the visible manifestation of 
the presence of God. But if there is on this earthly sphere 
a spot which is for all ages consecrated ground it surely 
must be that on v.'hich man has died for man. Thither rev- 
erential generations should flock in never ceasing proces- 
sion in gratitude for the sublime denial of self which has 
secured them the blessings of liberty and of a govern- 
ment of the people by and for the people. Among those 
hallowed spots this claims a high pre-eminence. From 
the field of battle here the shattered, bleeding British 
army reeled away. Claiming a nominal triumph, but re- 
ceiv^ing a deadly wound, it receded from the Pyrrhic vic- 
tory here to furl forever its baffled banners around their 
shattered staffs at Yorktown. The defeat of the Conti- 
nentals at Bunker Hill was a lost battle, pure and simple 
without compensations. But upon the summit of that 
hill there has for long years stood one of the noblest 
monuments of this country. The corner stone thereof 
was laid amid imposing ceremonies. The venerable La 
Fayette and Governors and Generals and thronging mul- 
titudes and martial music and hoarse throated cannon 
were there, and the greatest orator of the age said in well 
remembered phrase: " Let it rise; let it rise till it meet 
the sun in his coming; let the earliest rays of morning 
gild it, and parting day linger and play upon its summit." 
It is to the honor, not the opprobium of New England 



that the grand shaft stands there in eternal honor of the 
men who on that memorable day oi June, 1775, " vainly 
brave, died for a cause they could not save." But it is not 
well that for more than a century this spot, far more de- 
serving of remembrance and honor, was left in primeval 
wilderness, in total neglect and entire oblivion. 

The oft quoted remark of Dr. Johnson that " that man 
is little to be envied whose patriotism does not receive an 
added force on the plains of Marathon and whose piety 
does not grow warmer amid the ruins of lona," is more 
than a mere sentiment. It is founded upon a knowlege 
of the deepest emotions of the the human heart — emo- 
tions which do it highest honor. It is well that we are 
here. It is well that by our presence we testify our re- 
spect for the dead who died here, and for the eternal 
principles and for the great cause of human freedom for 
which they died. Your presence too is an unmistakable 
testimonial of gratitude and honor to the distinguished 
citizen whose patriotism and public spirit set on foot the 
movement which has redeemed the neglect with which 
our State had treated this spot. His clear intellect and 
brilliant pen have done justice at last to the North Caro- 
linians of Eaton's and Butler's Brigades — those untried 
troops who faced on this slope the trained veterans of 
England. Their deadly fire, our enemies themselves be- 
ing witnesses, filled that field with British dead. They 
retired in obedience to orders, but that retreat had for 
these many years been misrepresented, and their memory 
permitted to remain under a cloud. Judge Schenck un- 
dertook the refutation of the slander, gray with the mist 
of so many years. He has vindicated the fair fame of 
these North Carolinians. With patriotic devotion he has 
redeemed this field from oblivion and its defenders from 
obloquy. Governors, and Senators, and Judges will be 
forgotten, but the work which he has done for the people 



5 

of this State in vindicating the memory of their calumni- 
ated dead will be remembered to his honor "far, far on 
in Summers which we shall not see." In rescuing their 
fame he has more surely perpetuated his own. 

A free people can not safely forget those who have led 
it up to the light — those who, when disaster threatened, 
knew how to draw a newresource from despair. As the 
glories of Miltiades would not allow the young Themis- 
tocles to sleep, so the virtues, the courage, the unshaken 
devotion of those who led the barefooted, bleeding columns 
of liberty should be perpetual examples to the present 
and all future generations. In the language of inspiration 
"Our dead shall not go down to us dead." Plutarch 
records the name of a mother thus: "Of Thrace my race, 
Abrotonon my name, my son enrolls me in the lists o 
fame — the great Themistocles." So it is by the fame of 
her sons that a State is emblazoned on the rolls of fame 
She should keep bright the memory of their fame that her 
own may shine and that by emulation successive sons in 
the hour of danger and stress shall ever be prompt to 
stand forth ready for any duty, equal to any sacrifice, in 
rivalry and in memory of the heroes who have stepped 
forth like bridegrooms at the call of patriotism and honor. 
North Carolina has many dead whose fame, had they 
lived in New England or Virginia, would have been 
blazoned high up on the Bead Roll of fame. But our 
State has loomed up always grander in war than in 
Peace. With her the blood of her sons has been cheaper 
than ink. She has known how to make history, but not 
how to write it — eager to win victories, careless to record 
them. 

A distinguished citizen on this spot a year ago, in 
graceful speech, narrated the grand but simple story, 
w^hich after long and patient investigation, he had been 
able to win from the rapidly closing silence, of the life and 



services of "one of the Heroes of 1776" — Gen. Jethro Sum- 
ner. Mine is the humbler task to call to your attention to 
something of the life story of one who having lived to a 
later day, is somewhat better known. But though he 
was so prominent in civil as well as military life, the ma- 
terials left are so meager that I fear I can only give you 
a dry summary of the more prominent events of a career 
which was so full of deeds, so varied, so eventful that a 
volume could scarce do it justice. A dashing cavalry of- 
ficer, a patriot spending his entire fortune as well as his 
blood for his country; a lawyer of the largest attainments 
and an orator of superb eloquence, a member of the 
National Constitutional Convention of 1787 and of the 
North Carolina Convention of 1788; the founder of your 
State University, Grand Master of Masons, Governor of 
the State, Minister to France — we rarely hear of him now 
but when the young century stood at the threshold fame 
had in these parts no greater favorite than the brave, 
handsome, eloquent soldier and statesman. General Wm. 
R. Davie, of the county of Halifax. Him I now present 
to you. He lives, and should always live, in what he did 
for the cause of liberty and for t!ie glory and welfare of 
North Carolina. 

William Richardson Davie was born at Egremont, near 
Whitehaven, Cumberland County in the north of England, 
on June 2^th, 1756. He was brought over to this country 
by his father, Archibald Davie, who, upon the peace of 
1763, made a visit to America, and was left in the care of 
his maternal uncle. Rev. William Richardson, a Presby- 
terian clergyman residing in the Waxhaw settlement on 
the Catawba river in South Carolina. Having no chil- 
dren Mr. Richardson adopted his nephew and namesake, 
who became heir to his estate. At the usual age young 
Davie was sent to the "Queen's Museum" — the well 
known Academy and High School in Charlotte. From 



thence he entered at Nassau Hall, Princeton College, 
New Jersey of which the famous Dr. Witherspoon was 
then President. In the summer of 1776 with the consent 
of the President, a party of students, among whom Davie 
was one, was raised and served as volunteers in the pa- 
triot army. In the fall of that year he returned to Col- 
lege and passing his examinations took his College de- 
gree of Bachelor of Arts with the first honors of the in- 
stitution. His uncle died before his return home. Davie 
selected, the profession of law and began his studies at 
Salisbury. In 1777 he joined a detachment of 1,200 men 
under General Jones, ordered to be raised for the defence 
of Charleston, then threatened with another attack; but 
on reaching Camden it was found that the design was 
abandoned by the enemy and the detachment returned 
home after three months service. In 1779 a troop of 
Cavalry was raised in the Salisbury district. Of this 
William Barnett, of Mecklenburg, was chosen Captain 
and Davie, Lieutenant. His commission, signed by Gov. 
Caswell, is dated 5 April, 1779. With 200 horse he was 
immediately sent into the back country to suppress a 
tory rising, but it was quelled before their arrival. Soon 
after the troop joined the Southern Army and was at- 
tached to Pulaski's Legion. 

Captain Barnett having resigned Davie was promoted 
to Captain,, and shortly thereafter was made Major. On 
June 20th of that year, Davie took part in the battle of 
Stono near Charleston. In this battle the North Carolina 
Brigade was commanded by Gen. Jethro Sumner. In a 
cavalry charge on that day Davie was wounded and fell 
from his horse, but , retained hold of the bridle. The 
cavalry, dispirited by his fall, were in full retreat when a 
private in another company whose horse had been shot 
under him and was carrying off his saddle, saw Major 
Davie standing by his horse unable to mount him, his 



8 

thigh being- disabled by his wound. Though the enemy 
were in a few yards, this man deliberately placed him 
on his horse and led him from the field. His deliverer 
then disappeared and resumed his place in the ranks, 
and Davie could find no trace of him. The wound was a 
severe one, and kept Davie long in the hospital at 
Charleston, rendering him incapable of further service 
that year. At the siege of 'Ninety-Six, two years later, 
where Davie was present as Commissary-General of the 
Southern Army, on the morning of the attack, a stranger 
came to his tent and introduced himself as the man who had 
saved his life at Stono. He promised to visit him again, 
but when the troops were recalled from the fruitless at- 
tempt to storm the fort the body of the gallant unknown 
was found among the dead. On his return from the 
Charleston hospital in September 1779, Davie being unfit 
for service, applied for and received his county court 
license and was sent by the Governor to attend the 
courts on the Holston river, then in North Carolina, that 
he might ascertain public sentiment in that section. In 
the spring of 1780 he received his Superior Court license. 
About the same time he obtained authority from the 
Legislature of North Carolina to raise a troop of cavalry 
and two companies of mounted Infantry. The authority 
was all that the State could give, its funds being 
too low to provide the means. Major Davie, with a pa- 
triotism worthy of perpetual remembrance, disposed of 
the estate inherited from his uncle and thus raised the 
funds to equip his command. 

The surrender of Charleston, 12th May, 1780, and the 
surprise and butchery of Buford's men by Colonel Tarle- 
ton on the 29th of the same month, completed the subju- 
gation of South Carolina. Colonel Moore, with iioo 
tories, having collected at Ramsour's Mills in the edge 
of the present town of Lincolnton, Col. Francis Locke 



with 300 militia of Burke, Lincoln and Rowan, crossed 
the Catawba at Beattie's Ford, while General Rutherford 
acting in concert with him with 700 troops, among whom 
was Davie and his command, crossed at Tuckaseege 
ford. The two divisions were to meet in the night near 
the enemy and attack at break of day. Rutherford's 
march being circuitous, was delayed, but Colonel Locke, 
notwithstanding the disparity of force, attacked alone 
and won a complete victory. Rutherford arrived about 
an hour after the action, and dispatched Major Davie 
in pursuit of the fugitives. Shortly after Major Davie 
was ordered to take post near the South Carolina line, 
opposite Hanging Rock, to prevent the enemy from for- 
aging and to check the depredations of the tories w^ho 
infested that section. He was reinforced by some South 
Carolinians under Major Crawford, by 35 Catawba In- 
dians under their Chief, New River, and by part of the 
Mecklenburg militia. With part of his dragoons and 
some volunteers he left cam.p 20th July, 1780, to inter- 
cept a convoy of provisions and clothing destined for 
the enemy at Hanging Rock, eighteen miles distant 
Marching all night, he turned the enemy's flank 
and fell into the Camden road five miles below Haneine 
Rock. Here he awaited the convoy which appeared in 
the afternoon, and it was surprised and completely cap- 
tured with all the stores. 

About the last of July, Colonel Sumter with the South 
Carolina refugees, and Colonel Irwin with the North 
Carolina troops advanced to the attack of Rocky Mount 
while Major Davie was to make a diversion to engage 
the attention of the enemy at Hanging Rock. His de- 
tachment consisted of 80 mounted men. In sight of the 
enemy's camp he fell upon three corhpanies of their 
mounted infantry returning from an excursion. Taken 
by surprise they were literally cut to pieces almost before 



10 

they were aware of his presence. Sixty valuable horses 
with their furniture and lOO rifles and muskets were 
carried off by Davie in safety, without the loss of a 
man. On August 5th, an attack was ordered upon Hang- 
ing Rock by Colonel Sumter, who commanded in per- 
son the 800 troops engaged in the expedition. Of these 
500 were North Carolians commanded by Colonel Irwin 
and Major Davie. The troops halted at midnight within 
two miles of the enemy's camp, which they attacked 
next morning at daylight. The British regulars were 
commanded by Major Carden while among the aux- 
iliaries were several tory regiments. One was composed 
of tories from the upper Yadkin, commanded by Col- 
onel Bryan (whom Davie afterwards defended when 
tried for treason at Salisbury) and another mostly 
of South Carolinians, but led by Colonel John Hamil- 
ton of Halifax, who for many years after the war 
was British Consul at Norfolk. The attack at first 
was completely successful, but from lack of discipline 
many of the troops plundered the camps and became in- 
toxicated. A part of the British troops remaining intact 
formed a hollow square and necessitated a retreat, which ^ 
however, was made in good order, Davie's corps cover- 
ing the rear. The wounded were safely convoyed by 
him to Charlotte, where by his foresight a hospital had 
been established. It is worthy of note that on this ride 
to the attack at Hanging Rock by Davie's side rode as 
guides conversant with the roads and of undoubted 
courage and patriotism,- two country lads — brothers, re- 
spectively aged 15 and 13 years. The younger of the 
two was destined to see many another field of carnage 
and his name has filled long and well the sounding trump 
of fame — Andrew Jackson. Long years after, in the re- 
tirement of the Hermitage he said that Davie was the 
best soldier he had ever known and that his best lessons 
in the art of war had been learned from him. 



n 

On Davie's return from Charlotte he hastened to the 
general rendezvous of Gates' Army at Rugely's Mills. 
On August i6th, while hastening to join General Gates 
at Camden and ten miles from the battle field Major 
Davie met the defeated army with the General leading 
the retreat. He ordered Davie to fall back on Charlotte 
who replied that his men had formed the acquaintance of 
Tarleton's Legion and did not fear to meet them again. 
He continued his course towards the battle-ground, 
meeting the flying fragments of the routed army. He 
secured several wagons loaded with clothing and medi- 
cine which had been abandoned. With great- thought- 
fulness he immediately sent an officer to notify Colonel 
Sumter of the great disaster which had befallen our arms. 
He reached Sumter that evening, who at once began 
his retreat along the west bank of the Catawba, towards 
the up country. Not taking sufficient precaution, how- 
ever, Sumter was surprised on the i8th by Tarleton at 
Fishing Creek, and his entire command of 800 men was 
captured or put to flight with the total loss of all his ar- 
tillery, arms and baggage. Col. Sumter himself, who 
was asleep under a w^agon w^hen the attack was made, 
barely escaped and the next day reached Davie's camp 
at Charlotte alone, riding on horseback, without saddle 
or bridle. The tidings carried consternation into the 
fragments of Gates' army w^hich had rallied there, and in 
a few moments Davie and his command w^ere the only 
force left in front of the enemy. Instead of retiring he 
boldly advanced to the Waxhaws and found that the en- 
emy had fallen back to Camden. 

On the 5th of September, 1780, Davie was appointed 
by Governor Nash, Colonel Commandant of Cavalry in 
the Western District of North Carolina with instructions 
to raise a regiment. When he had collected onh' about 
seventy men, with that force and two small compatiies of 



12 

riflemen commanded by Major Geo. Davidson he took 
post at Providence, twenty-five miles from the British 
camp. Cornwallis, after resting at Camden till the first 
week in September, had advanced to the Waxhaws forty 
miles below Charlotte, while the fragments of the Amer- 
ican army were slowly gathering at Hillsboro, 200 miles 
distant. South Carolina was w^holly subjugated and North 
Carolina had not recovered from the shock of Gates' de- 
feat. Under these circumstances Colonel Davie, with 
unprecedented boldness, with a command not exceeding 
150 men all told, on the 20th of September turning the 
right flank of the British Army by a circuitous march fell 
upon 300 or 400 of the enemy at Wahab's plantation. 
The attack was made at daylight. The surprise was 
complete. 

The enemy left fifteen or twenty dead on the field and 
had some forty wounded. Davie got off safely with the 
captured horses and had only one man wounded. The 
enemy at once caused the farm buildings which belonged 
to Captain Wahab, then a volunteer with Davie, to be 
laid in ashes. Davie brought off ninety-six horses and 
their furniture and 120 stand of arms and arrived in 
camp the same afternoon, having marched sixty miles in 
less than twenty-four hours, including the time employed 
in seeking and beating the enemy. That evening Gen's 
Sumner and Davidson arrived at his camp with their force 
of 1000 badly equipped militia. 

On the 24th of September the American patrols gave 
notice that the force of the enemy was in motion on the 
Steele Creek road, leading to Charlotte. Gen's Sumner 
and Davidson retreated by Phifers on the nearest road to 
Salisbury. Colonel Davie, with 150 mounted men and 
some volunteers under Maj. Joseph Graham, was left 
alone in front of the British army, and he was ordered to 
observe the enemy and skirmish with his advance. On 



13 

the evening and night of the 25th he took a number of 
prisoners and at midnight took up his position at Char- 
lotte, seVen miles from the spot where Earl Cornwallis 
had encamped. Early on the 26th his patrols were 
driven in by the enemy's light troops and in a few mo- 
ments the legion and light infantry were seen advancing, 
followed by the whole army. Davie was reinforced in 
the night by a few volunteers under Maj. Joseph Graham. 
Charlotte was then a village of about twenty houses, 
built on two streets, which crossed each others at right 
angfles. At their intersection stood the court house. 
Colonel Davie dismounted one company and stationed it 
under the court house where they were protected by a 
stone wall. The other two companies were advanced 
about eighty yards and posted behind some houses and 
gardens. The legion formed at a distance of three hun- 
dred yards with a front to fill the street. On sounding 
the charge the enemy's cavaly advanced at full gallop, 
but at sixty yards from the court house the Americans 
opened fire and drove them back with great precipitation 
A second and third charge had the same result. But 
being outflanked by the legion infantry Davie withdrew 
his companies in good order, successively covering each 
other and retreated on the Salisbury road. The enemy 
followed with great caution and respect for some distance, 
when they at length ventured to charge the small rear 
guard. In this charge Lieutenant'Locke and four pri- 
vates were killed and Major Graham and five privates 
wounded. The coolness and skill of Davie in this ever 
memorable combat in which, with a mere handful of men, 
he held the whole British Army for hours at bay and 
drove back repeatedly its best troops and finally brought 
off his command unbroken and in good order, stamp him 
as a soldier of no ordinary capacity. He was at this time 
twenty-four years of age. Gov. Graham says of him, 



14 

"he was prudent, vigilant, intrepid and skillful in his 
movements against the enemy and with a charming pres- 
ence, a ready eloquence and an undaunted spirit he was 
among the young men of the day as Harry Percy 'to the 
chivalry of England.'" He also terms him, "one of the 
most accomplished and elegant gentleman of the revolu- 
tionary race." Besides his abilities as a leader he was 
an expert swordsman. It is said in "Gordon's Anec- 
dotes of the Revolution" that he had slain more men in 
personal encounters in battle than any man in the army. 
The next day, after the brilliant affair at Charlotte, 
Col. Davie joined the army at Salisbury where recruits 
having come in and Col. Taylor from Granville having 
joined him, his force consisted of 300 mounted infantry 
and a few dragoons. Gen's Sumner and Davidson con- 
tinued their retreat across the Yadkin while Davie re- 
turned towards Charlotte, where he so vexed the British 
by cutting off the forage parties and beating up their ad- 
vanced posts that Cornwallis began to feel great distress 
for want of forage and supplies. (Tarleton's Campaigns 
184). The British officer declared he had "found a rebel 
in every bush outside his encampment." On October 7 
occurred the disastrous defeat of Ferguson at King's 
Mountain, and on the night of October 14, Cornwallis 
began his retreat to South Carolina, followed by Davie, 
who harassed his rear and captured part of his baggage. 
On the 19th the British crossed the Catawba at Land's 
Ford and completely evacuated the State of North Caro- 
lina. When Gen. Greene took command of the Southern 
Army in December 1780 he and Col. Davie met for the 
first time. The Commissary Department became vacant 
by the resignation of Col. Thomas Polk. The subsistence 
of the army had become very difficult and Col. Polk de- 
clared that it had become impossible. Gen. Greene 
having formed a high estimate of Col. Davie's abilities, 



15 

earnestly and in most flattering terms solicited him to re- 
linquish his hopes of brilliant service in the field and ac- 
cept the vacant office. At the call of patriotism he 
abandoned the tempting career which lay before him and 
assumed the not less important but more unpleasant and 
arduous duties of a station which offered no distinctions. 
Gen. Greene had himself set the example, having relin- 
quished a brilliant career in the field to assume for years 
the duties of Quarter-Master General of the Army. Col. 
Davie assumed the duties of his new post in January 1781, 
and continued with the army for the next five months. 
Hardly any combination of circumstances could exist 
presenting greater difficulties to the Commissary of an 
army than those under which he began. With a depre- 
ciated, almost worthless currency, and an exhausted 
country his only resource was to receive from the willing 
and extort from the reluctant such means of subsistence 
as they possessed, a service requiring promptness and 
vigor among the disaffected and skill and discretion 
among the friendly. These duties were well performed 
and while they make no display on the page of history 
their efficient discharge was more really useful to the 
cause and contributed more to the success of the army 
than the most brilliant services of the most brilliant offi- 
cer in the field. In that capacity he was present in the 
memorable battle at this place. Though he had, of 
course, no command he was a watchful observer of all 
the movements of the fight and distinguished himself by 
his efforts to rally the broken ranks and bring them again 
into the field. After Judge Schenck's vivid description 
of this battle it would be a twice told tale to recount its 
incidents. It may be well to recall, however, that 
Eaton's Brigade was composed of men from Warren, 
Franklin, Nash, Halifax and Northampton Counties, 
while Butler's men were from the present Counties of 



Wake, Durham, Orange, Alamance, Vance, Granville, 
Person and Caswell. No race o( people has changed less 
by infiltration of foreign immigraton. It is in warp and 
woof the same it was a hundred years ago. 'Those who 
know them well, know that they are "the blue hen's own 
chickens" and it is not to be believed (if all other proof 
was wanting) that men of that stock ever left any fair 
field of fight in a body save in honor. 

It was here that Col. Davie, seeing the veteran ist 
Maryland permit the enemy to approach to close quarters, 
while it remained apparently inert and impassive, ex- 
claimed with great emotion, "Great God! is it possible 
Col. Gunby will surrender himself and his whole Regi- 
ment to the British.?" He had scarce spoken when the 
command having been given, their fire, like a sheet of 
flame, swept off the enemy's first line. This was followed 
up by a bayonet charge from Gunby. The hostile lines 
became so intermingled and the moment so critical that 
Cornwallis, to save himself, caused his cannon to open 
upon the mass of struggling men and swept off friend and 
foe alike. This he did against the remonstrance of Gen. 
O'Hara, who was lying wounded on the ground and 
whose men were thus being destroyed at short range by 
the cannon of their own army.^ 

Col. Davie continued with the army and was present at 
Hobkirk's Hill on April 25th, at the evacuation of Camden 
and the siege of Ninety-Six. While the army lay before 
Ninety-Six, Gen. Greene found it necessary to send him 
as a confidential messenger to the Legislature of North 
Carolina to represent to that body the wants of his army 

*NOTE.— At Toulon in 1793, this Gen. O'Hara commanded. It was there that Napo- 
leon Bonaparte, then Lieut. Colonel of Artillery, first displayed his military genius. 
He detected, and caused to be seized, the point which would necessitate the evacua- 
tion of the city by the British. Gen. O'Hara at the head of 3 000 men made an assault 
by night to reco'ver it. In this O'Hara was wounded and captured and Bonaparte 
himself received a bayonet wound in the thigh. The assault being repulsed Toulon 
was evacuated and the career of Napoleon began. Sir Walter Scott savs: 'On that 
night of conflagraition, tears and blood the st;ir of Napoleon first rose in the ascendant 
and though it shone over many a scene of terror ere it set it may be doubted if it ever 
saw one more dreadful." 



^7 

and that his almost sole reliance for assistance was from 
them. Col. Davie's knowledge of the members and tact 
were such that he procured a most generous contribution 
by the General Assembly of men and supplies. The exi- 
gencies of the service and the equipment of the new 
levies required him to remain in North Carolina, and in 
July, 1781, he entered on his duties as Commissary Gen- 
eral of this State, which post he filled till the end of the 
war. The finances of the State were in a desperate con- 
dition, and the country was well nigh exhausted by the 
requisitions of both hostile and friendly armies, and be- 
sides, supplies had to be dispatched to our troops operat- 
ing in South Carolina. No duties could be more arduous 
or more admirably performed than those which fell to 
Col. Davie's lot at this stage of the war. Transporta- 
tion was lacking, even for the supplies which could be 
obtained. The future seemed uncertain as to everything. 
No post could more sorely have tried the patience of any 
man. It argues a versatility of talents for a brilliant 
cavalry officer to execute with patience the duties of 
such a station, and a rare self denial to lay aside the op- 
pDrtunities of distinction for the exactions of so wearying 
and humdrum a post. To add to other troubles, he had 
to deal, during the year 178 1, with three different Gov- 
ernors of entirely different views and dispositions. Gov. 
Nash had resigned in disgust at the proceedings of the 
Legislature; Gov. Burke had been taken prisoner and 
Gov. Martin completed the year. So feeble at times was 
the support of the Government that some of the most 
pressing supplies were procured by Davie on his own 
credit. Complex and numerous as were his accounts, 
when he laid down his office he invited the severest Leg- 
islative scrutiny, but no objection to them could be found. 
The war being over Col. Davie resumed the practice 
of his profession in February 178^3. About the same time 



i8 

he married Miss Sarah Jones, the daug-htcr of Gen. Allen 
Jones, of Northampton, and niece of Willie Jones, of 
Halifax, and settled in the latter town as his place of fu- 
ture residence. It was at that time practically the capital 
of the State. The sessions of the General Assembly had 
been more frequently held at that place, and it was there 
that most of the executive business of the State was 
transacted. 

He was a brilliant advocate, and possessed a natural 
aptitude for the practice of law. The State at that time 
was divided into seven Judicial Districts: Halifax, New 
Berne, Wilmington, Edenton, Hillsboro, Salisbury and 
Morganton. To these, in 1787, Fayetteville was added. 
The Superior Courts were held only* at these places, and 
not as now at a Court House in each County. Colonel 
Davie took the circuit and attended in turn all the Supe- 
rior Courts of the State, except that held at Morganton. 
An examination of the dockets shows that' he soon 
commanded a leading practice in all these courts. At 
some places and at some terms the dockets show that he 
appeared without exception on one side or the other of 
every civil case upo*n the docket. After the suspension 
of business for so many years the dockets were large too. 
His practice was very lucrative and he quickly accumu- 
lated a large estate. 

An examination of our published reports shows numer- 
ous cases of importance in which he was counsel. Prob- 
ably the most important were Hamilton vs. Eaton, i N. 
C. 84, which held the State Confiscation Act repealed by 
the U. S. Treaty of Peace with England, and Bayard vs. 
Singleton, i N. C, 42, which was the first case in Amer- 
ica which asserted the power and duty of the courts to 
declare an act of the Legislature unconstitutional. It 
also held the confiscation acts against the late tories in- 
valid. Iredell, Johnston and Davie appeared for the sue- 



^9 

cessfill plaintiff, and Moore and Nash for the defendant. 
With the chivah-y of his nature it was most natural 
that when the tory, Colonel Bryan, with whom he had so 
often crossed swords, was arraigned and tried at Salisbury 
in 17S2 for treason, Col. Davie was one of the counsel 
who conducted his defense. In this he' displayed a cour- 
age of the forum no less brilliant and commendable than 
his conduct in the field. Indeed Davie, thouc!"h the \'ouno:- 
est, became in fact the principal counsel. Excitement 
ran so high that no lesser favorite than "the hero of 
Charlotte" could command attention. Bryan was con- 
victed with several others, and was sentenced to be hung 
the 14th of April, 1782, but was pardoned and exchanged. 
Judge Murphy of the Superior Court of North Carolina 
who had the opportunity of judging and whose opinion is 
of high value, says, " Davie took Lord BoHngbrook for 
his model and applied himself with so much diligence to 
the study of his master that literary men could easily 
recognize his lofty and flowing style. He was a tall, ele- 
gant man in his person; graceful and commanding in his 
manners. His voice was mellow and adapted to the ex- 
pression of every passion. His style was magnificent 
and flowing. He had a greatness of manner in public 
speaking which suited his style and gave his speeches an 
imposing effect. He was a laborious sti^dent and a'- 
ranged his discourses with care and wdien the subject 
suited his genius poured forth a torrent of eloquence that 
astonished and delighted his audience. They looked 
upon him w-ith delight, listened to his long harmonious 
periods, caught his emotions, and indulged that ecstac}' of 
feeling which fine speaking and powerful eloquence can 
alone produce. He is certainly to be ranked among the first 
orators whom the American nation has produced." It is 
said of him, with probably small exaggeration, that dur- 
ing 15 years while he was at the bar there was not a cap- 



20 

ital trial in North Carolina in which he was not retained 
for the defense. Eminent as he was it was not for the 
lack of worthy competitors. James Iredell and Alfred 
Moore, successively Justices of the Supreme Court of the 
United States, Francois Xavier Martin, after Chief Justice 
of Louisiana, and Judge John Haywood, afterwards of 
Tennessee, and many others were his contemporaries. 
His brief books, some of which are still in existence, are 
models of neatness and care and show a most careful 
summary of the evidence and citation of authority in 
each case. Among his law students were Governor and 
U. S. Senator David Stone, Mr. Justice Daniel, of our 
Supreme Court and many others who became distinguished 
men. Judge Daniel said of him that he was the best 
lawyer and most accomplished man he had ever known. 
It is stated of him in comparison with his great legal 
rival, John Haywood, that while the latter carefully pre- 
pared every point, Davie would seize the strong points of 
the case and throw his whole strength upon them. In 
this he seems to have retained the experience and in- 
stincts of his soldier life. As a characteristic of his ele- 
gant tastes and attention to details it is said that an ex- 
amination of his correspondence shows that his letters 
were invariably written upon gilt edge paper. 

When the Convention was called to meet at Philadel- 
phia in May, 1787, which formed our present Federal 
Constitution, he was elected one of the delegates. The 
others were the then Governor Richard Caswell, Ex-Gov. 
Alexander Martin, Richard Dobbs Spaight, who, like 
Davie himself, was subsequently Governor, William 
Blount, afterwards U. S. Senator and Hugh Williamson, 
afterwards a member of Congress and a historian. Gov. 
Caswell did not attend. Col. Davie was the junior mem- 
ber of the delegation, being then, notwithstanding his 
distinguished career as a soldier and his high standing at 



21 

the bar, not yet 31 }"ears of age. Still his eloquence and 
influence made a decided impression upon the Conven- 
tion. The Constitution all through is the result of a com- 
promise. But the critical question was the equal repre- 
sentation of each State in the Senate. Upon this it 
seemed likely the Convention would be dissolved. The 
large States were firm for proportional representation. 
With the smaller States an equal voice in the Senate was 
a si?ie qua noii. On that question North Carolina voted 
with the other large States against the demands of the 
smaller States and this made the vote a tie, as Georgia 
on purpose evenly divided her vote. The friends of the 
Constitution, fearing a disruption, referred the question to 
a Committee composed of one from each State. Davie 
was the member of the Committee from North Carolina. 
When the Committee made its report, Davie, acting for 
North Carolina, gave her vote with the smaller States 
and thus by one majority was equal representation in the 
Senate secured. Without it the Convention would doubt- 
less have adjourned after a useless session. The Con- 
stitution without 1 hat wise concession could not have been 
adopted, and if adopted by the Convention its ratification 
by the smaller States could not have been expected. 
This act was certainly against the wishes of his own State, 
then the 3rd, in point of population, in the Confederacy, 
ranking next after Virginia and Massachusetts and ahead 
of New York. It was also apparently against the inter- 
ests of his State, but the act was that of a Statesman and 
should be recalled to his lasting honor. It wa/ls a critical 
moment, when a narrow minded man in his place, timid 
of responsibility and fearful of his own popularity at 
home would have prevented or postponed for many years 
the American Union. He remained in Philadelphia till 
the deliberations of the Convention were virtually over 
and the adoption of the Constitution had become certain. 



22 

Then, in obedience to his duty to his clients, as the fall 
circuit was about to begin, he left for home. Hence it is 
that his name does not appear among those appended to 
that instrument. The Constitution being the work of 
many hands and containing so many alterations and 
amendments would naturally have been rough and ill- 
joined, containing a variety of styles. It is worthy of 
note that the convention considerately referred it to a 
committee of one — Governeur Morris — an accomplished 
scholar, to make changes " of form not of substance." 
Under his hand it was polished and put in shape, and 
hence the uniform flow and regularity oT its language. 

But the work was not yet done. The Constitution was 
yet to be ratified by the Conventions of the several States. 
When the North Carolina Convention met at Hillsboro 
July 21, 1788, a formidable opposition was arrayed against 
its adoption, headed by Willie Jones, David Caldwell, 
Judge Spencer and others. The friends of adoption were 
led by James Iredell, a remarkably able man, and Col. 
Davie aided by Spaight, McLaine, Steele and others. 
The adoption of the Constitution was at that time de- 
feated. After the adoption subsequently of the Federal 
Constitution by North Carolina, President Washington 
tendered the appointment of United States District 
Judge to Davie, who declined it. Col. Stokes was ap- 
pointed but soon dying, John Sitgreaves was appointed, 
probably through Davie's influence. He had married his 
wife's sister. 

By his wife he had acquired a valuable plantation near 
Halifax, which he took pleasure in cultivating and he 
evinced a deep interest in introducing there a better sys- 
tem of farming. His enterprise and public spirit pro- 
cured the organization of a company for the proposed 
drainage of Lake Scuppernong. 
A friend of education, in 1786 he obtained from the 



23 

General Assembly the charter of Warrenton Academy 
and had himself, with Willie Jones, Thomas Person, Ben- 
jamin Hawkins and other prominent men named as the 
Board of Trustees. He was chosen repeatedly, except 
when his private business constrained him to decline an 
election, to represent the borough of Halifax in the 
House of Commons. He served thus in the years 1786, 
1787, 1789, 1791, 1793, I794i 1795 and 1798. He was the 
real founder of the University of North Carolina and is 
so styled in the Journal of 18 10 of that institution and 
well deserved to be so called. Judge Murphy bears this 
testimony: " I was present in the House of Commons 
when Davie addressed that body (in 1789) for a loan of 
money to erect the buildings of the University and al- 
though more than 30 years have elapsed I have the most 
vivid recollections of the greatness of his manner and 
the power of his eloquence upon that occasion. In the 
House of Commons he had no rival and on all questions 
before that body his eloquence was irresistable." He 
procured the Act of Incorporation to be passed in 1789, 
and other aid, and was always a fostering friend. 

The opposition to all the measures in favor of the Uni- 
versity was great. The cry of '• economy" and the fear 
expressed that the institution was one step towards the 
founding of an aristocracy made it difficult to carry any 
measure through. Gifted with less tact, with less elo- 
quence or with less popularity Davie must have failed. 
The institution is no less a monument also to his public 
spirit, boldness and foresight. He was a member of the 
first Board of Trustees. The selection of a site for the 
University, the superintendence of the erection of the 
buildings, the choice of professors, the arrangement of a 
course of studies, the adoption of regulations, the main- 
tenance of discipline engaged his personal and active at- 
tention. Truly he might have exclaimed ''Excgi monu 



24 

mentuin aere pcrennins!' The course of studies adopted 
at Davie's instance in 1795 was the "optional" system 
which now generally obtains. In this he anticipated the 
course of other colleges full fifty years. When Dr. David 
Caldwell was elected President this was set aside and the 
old iron bound curriculum was adopted and remained in 
force 80 years. 

On December 9, 1787, in the town of Tarboro, the Free 
Masons of this State organized the Grand Lodge of 
North Carolina. At that meeting many of the most dis- 
tinguished men of the State attended, Col. Davie among 
them. Gov. Johnston was elected the first Grand Master 
of North Carolina, and Gov. Caswell the second Grand 
Master. Davie was elected Grand Master in December 
1792 and was successively re-elected for seven years. In 
that capacity he laid the corner stone of the University, 
October 12, 1793, (the old East building), and on April 
14, 1798 he laid the corner stone of the old South Build- 
ing at the same place. 

The project of a digest of the laws was brought forward 
by him, and the appointment of Judge Iredell, the ac- 
complished jurist, to do the work was made at his sug- 
gestion. The cession of the territory which now forms 
the State of Tennessee was effected mainly by his influ- 
ence. In 1 791 he was appointed by the Legislature one 
of three Commissioners to establish the unsettled part of 
the boundary between this State and South Carolina. He 
was again elected for the same purpose in 1796 and again 
in 1803. None of these commissions however were suc- 
cessful. 

In 1794 he was commissioned by Gov. Spaight to be 
Major General of the 3rd State Division in view of the 
likelihood of war with France. By act of Congress the 
24th of June, 1797, Congress directed an embodiment of 
troops from the several States. The number to be raised 



25 

by this State under the act was 7,268 and in September 
of that year he was appointed by Gov. Ashe Major Gen- 
eral to command this detachment. As matters became 
more serious Congress in May, 1798, authorized a Provis- 
ional Army of the U. S. of io,cxx) men, and in this he 
was appointed a Brigadier General by President Adams, 
July 17, 1798, and was confirmed by the Senate July 19th. 
Of this army Washington was made Commander in Chief 
and he, in effect, committed to Gen. Davie the selection 
of the officers for that part of the troops which should be 
raised in this State In the same year Gen. Davie pre- 
pared a system of cavalry tactics which was adopted by 
the Legislature and ordered to be printed. A copy of 
this is now in our State Library. 

Gen. Davie came out of the war with the first military 
reputation in the State, and these successive appoint- 
ments so many years after prove that North Carolina still 
turned to him as her greatest soldier. 

Just at this time, singularly enough, when in the re- 
ceipt of high honors, State and National, his election for 
the borough of Halifax was first endangered. The cir- 
cumstance is thus stated in a private letter from that 
town, written in August, 1798: "The 'true whigs,' as 
they styled themselves, dined together under the oaks 
and toasted Mr. Jefferson. The other party, who were 
called 'aristocrats,' ate and drank in the house on entirely 
different principles. Gen. Davie dined in the house with 
the 'aristocrats.' The 'true whigs' took offense at this 
and resolved to oppose his election, and it was only with 
much address that they were kept quiet." The writer 
adds: " If any person had had the impudence to dispute 
the election Gen. Davie would certainly not have been 
returned. The rabble which in all places is the majority, 
would have voted against him." 

He took his seat when the Legislature met. By that 



26 

body — -the then constitutional mode — he was, on joint 
ballot, elected Governor of the State December 4th, 1798, 
over Benjamin Williams, (afterwards Governor), and was 
inaugurated December 7th. Nothing of special note took 
place during his tenure of the office. President Adams 
appointed an embassy to treat with the French Directory, 
consisting of Mr. Murray, then our minister to Holland, 
Chief Justice Ellsworth and Patrick Henry. The latter 
having declined on the ground of age and ill health, on 
June I, 1799, Gov. Davie was appointed in his stead. On 
September 10 he resigned the office of Governor, and on 
the 22nd left Halifax to join Mr. Ellsworth at Trenton. 
At his departure the people of Halifax and vicinit}^ pre- 
sented him with a complimentary address, which was 
written by a political adversary and signed by large num- 
bers of the same party. 

On November 3, 1799, Messrs. Ellsworth and Davie 
embarked in the Frigate United States, from Newport, R. 
I. Uncertain as to the changeable form of Government 
in France they touched at Lisbon, which they reached 
the 27th of November. They left the 21st of December, 
but being driven out of their course by a storm they put 
into Corunna the nth of January, 1800, which they left 
by land on the 27th of January, and on February 9, at 
Burgos, in Spain, they met a courier from Talleyrand, 
the French Minister, inviting them, on the part of Bona- 
parte, who had become First Consul, to proceed to Paris, 
which place they reached on the 2nd of March. These 
dates will show the vast difference which less than a cen- 
tury has made in the modes of travelling and the trans- 
mission of intelligence. On April 8, the Commissioners 
were received with marked politeness by the First Con- 
sul. Napoleon having left for Italy on the famous cam- 
paign of Marengo, the negotiations dragged till his re- 
turn. On September 30, 1800, the treaty between the 



27 

United States and France was signed by our Commis- 
sioners and by Joseph Bonaparte, Roederer and Fleurieu 
on the part of France. The conclusion of the treaty was 
celebrated with eclat at Morfontaine, the country seat of 
Joseph Bonaparte, the First Consul and a brilliant staff 
attending. One who was then in Paris writes: "A man of 
his (Davie's) imposing appearance and dignified deport- 
ment could not fail to attract especial attention and remark 
wherever he went. I could not but remark that Bona- 
parte, in addressing the American legation at his levees 
seemed for the time to forget that Governor Davie was 
second \n the Commission, his attention being more par- 
ticularly directed to him." In the brilliant circles of the 
nascent Empire of Napoleon he was distinguished by his 
elegance and his popular manners. His sojourn in Paris 
was very agreeable to him. He was an accomplished 
linguist and spoke French and Spanish fluently. 

In the fall of that year Gov. Davie returned directly 
home. Chief Justice Ellsworth calling by London was 
presented at Court and Mr. Murray returned to the 
Hague. It is significant that the very day after this 
treaty w^as signed, France, by the treaty of St. Ildefonso, 
re-acquired Louisiana from Spain, which it so soon after 
sold to the United States. 

On his return home Davie was solicited to become a 
candidate for Congress in 1801, but his private affairs by 
reason of his long absence required his attention and he 
declined. Willis Alston then a member of the same po- 
litical party was elected. In June of that year President 
Jefferson appointed Gov. Davie head of a commission 
with Gen. Wilkinson and Benjamin Hawkins to negotiate 
with the Creeks and other Indians for further cession of 
lands. This he declined for the same reason he had re- 
fused an election to Congress. In 1802 he was appointed 
by President Jefferson a Commissioner on the part of the 



28 

United States in the treaty to be made between North 
CaroHna and the Tuscaroras, most of whom had moved 
from this State, but had retained a valuable landed inter- 
est in Bertie County, He met the agents of the State 
and the Chiefs of the Indians at Raleigh, and the treaty 
was signed December 4th, 1802, by virtue of which King 
Blount* and. the remainder of the tribe removed to New 
York in June, 1803. In the Spring of 1803, Alston hav- 
ing gone over to the opposite political party. Gen. Davie 
was again solicited by his friends to become a candidate 
for Congress. He accepted the nomination but declined 
to make any canvass. He was charged with being an 
aristocrat and with being opposed to Mr. Jefferson, whose 
prestige was then all powerful. He was defeated at the 
polls. 

He had lost his wife not long after his return from 
France. This, together with his political defeat, deter- 
mined him to withdraw altogether from public life. In 
November, 1805, he removed to an estate he possessed at 
Tivoli, near Landsford, in S. C, just across the line from 
Mecklenburg County, in this State. Here he lived in 
dignified ease and leisure. 

Many men, after the buffetings of a stormy or a busy 
life, have in like manner felt the need of rest before they 
go hence. It was thus that the Emperor, Charles the 
Fifth, at Juste and Wolsey, who had "sounded all the 
depths and shoals of honor," at Leicester Abbey, had 
sought to put a space of contemplation between the 
active duties of life and the grave. His country, how- 
ever, did not forget Gen. Davie. During the second war 
with Great Britain President Madison appointed him a 
Major General in the U. S. Army and he was confirmed 
by the Senate the 2nd of March, 1813. But "time steals 
fire from the mind as vigor from the limbs." Though not 
an old man. Gen. Davie's early campaigns had told upon 

*NOTE.— A descendant of King Blount is at present King of the Sandwich Islands. 



29 

him. The sword which twenty-five years before had al- 
most leapt of itself from the scabbard w^asnow constrained 
to hang idly by his side and he declined the appointment. 
Gen. Harrison (afterwards President) was appointed in 
his stead and fought the battle of the Thames, October 
5, 1813, in which Tecumseh was slain. The next year he 
in turn resigned and Gen. Andrew Jackson was appointed 
to succeed him and the battle of New Orleans followed 
on January 8, 181 5. 

Gen. Davie's seat at Tivoli on the Catawba was the re- 
sort of many of the Revolutionary characters of the 
State. In their journies by private conveyance to Vir- 
ginia or the North, the custom was to arrange to spend a 
day or two there with him where he kept open house for 
his friends and sitting under an immense oak from 
which there was a view of miles of the Catawba, they 
fought over the war together or discussed the work- 
ings of the new government and the constitution they 
had established. This was all the more interesting as 
much of his campaigning had taken place on and around 
this very spot. In this connection it is interesting to state 
that after his retirement to Tivoli he was much sought 
after and engaged in drawing wills. He drew some of 
the most famous wills in that State — indeed it is said all 
the wills in that part of it in which he resided — not one of 
which except his own was ever assailed. In this respect 
he had the fortune of Sugden Lord St. Leonards, Gov. 
Tilden and many other famous lawyers. The contest 
over Gov. Davie's will has just been settled by a decision 
of the Supreme Court of the United States filed the 28th 
of March of this year (1892) in the case oi Bcdon vs. 
Davii\ 144 U. S. 142, a very interesting case. 

His correspondence and other materials for history 
must have been very large and. very valuable. It w^as 
from his papers that the copy of the Mecklenburg Decla- 



30 

ration of May 20th, 1775, was procured which is known 
as the "Davie Copy." Unfortunately all his family pa- 
pers and all the historical material which had been care- 
fully preserved by him for publication at some future time, 
were destroyed during Sherman's raid. The banks of the 
Catawba were said to have been strewn with them and 
nothing of the collection now remains. 

In retirement he displayed his accustomed public spirit 
by introducing improved methods of farming and mainly at 
his instance a State Agricultural Society in South Caro- 
lina was formed, of which he was the first President. By 
his practice at the bar he had accumulated a large estate 
which he dispensed with liberality and hospitality. When 
the end came he met it with the firmness of a soldier. 
His sun of life went down in a cloudless sky. He passed 
away the i8th of November, 1820 in the 65th year of his 
age. 

"The hero lies still, while the dew drooping willows 
Like fond weeping mourners lean over his grave. 

The lightnings may flash and the loud cannon rattle, 
He heeds not, he hears not, he's free from all pain; 

He sleeps his last sleep he has fought his last batt^i- 
No sound can wake him to glory again." 

He was buried at Waxhaw Church, Lancaster County, 
S. C, just across the Catawba river from his Tivoli plan- 
tation. The following modest and truthful inscription on 
his tomb is said to be from the pen of his friend. Gov. 
Gaston, of South Carolina: 



31 

In this grave are deposited the remains of 

WILLIAM R. DAVIE. 

The Soldier, Jurist, Statesman and Patriot. 

, In the Glorious War for 

AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE 

He fought among- the foremost of the Brave. 

As an advocate at the Bar, 

He was diligent, sagacious, zealous, 

Jncorruptibly Honest, of Commanding Eloquence. 

In the Legislative Hall 

He had no superior in enlarged vision 

And profound plans of Policy. 

Single in his ends, varied in his means, indefatigable 

In his exertions. 

Representing his Nation in an important Embassy, 

He evinced his characteristic devotion to her interests 

And manifested a peculiar fitness for Diplomacy. 

Polished in manners, firm in action. 
Candid without imprudence, wise above deceit. 

A true lover of his Country, "^ 

Always preferring the People's good to the People's favor. 

Though he disdained to fawn lor office, 

He filled most of the stations to which Ambition might aspire, 

And declining no Public Trust, 

Enobled whatever he accepted 

By true Dignity and Talent 

Which he brought into the discharge of its functions. 

A Great Man in an age of Great Men. 

In life he was admired and beloved by the virtuous and the wise. 

In death he has silenced calumny and caused envy to mourn. 

He was born in Edinburgh 1756, 

And died in South Carolina in 1820. 

*A mistake. 



32 

And so the record ends and his life work was done. 

" The good knight is dust, 

His good sword is rust, 

His soul is with the saints, we trust." 

Justly does his epitaph style him, "A great man in an age 
great men," for as a soldier he was the trusted compan- 
•ion of Greene, as a lawyer the peer of Haywood, Iredell 
and Moore, as a statesman a leader among the framers 
of the Federal Constitution, as a diploinat Talle}^rand 
obtained no advantage over him and by personal inter- 
course he won the friendship of Washington, the confidence 
of Jefferson, the esteem of Napoleon and the warm ad- 
miration of Andrew Jackson. A life whose circumfer- 
ence touched these points could fill no small space in the 
public eye. 

North Carolina does herself honor in remembering her 
patriotic and illustrious son. One of the fairest Counties 
of the State, seated in the fertile valley of the Yadkin 
preserves his name to future times. But no storied shaft 
or sculptured bust presents the record of his fame or the 
lineaments of his countenance. 

The cause for which the men of 1776 sacrificed them- 
selves was a grand one. The world has not known a 
nobler. It was one of those epochs which mark a dis- 
tinct advance in the progress of the human race. Its ef- 
fects were far reaching. Then was established that right 
of self government which has placed 44 stars on our flag 
and beneath its folds 75 millions of freemen and a terri- 
tory extending over near no degrees of longitude and 
almost 50 degrees of latitude. Great Britain has profited 
by the lesson then taught and has established and re- 
tained an enormous colonial possession extending into 
every quarter of the globe by promptly granting as soon 
as asked, and oft times before it has been demanded, the 
very rights for which these colonies asked in vain and by 



33 

the denial of which she lost this country. All of Amer- 
ica, North and South, has followed our example. France 
immediately felt the impulse. Though her first revolu- 
tion was marked with excesses and though betrayed and 
thwarted in her wishes in i8i5,in 1830 and again in 1851, 
w^ith sublime perseverance at every opportunity she has 
returned to her first love, and since 1870 has enjoyed self 
government. But there is not time to enumerate the re- 
sults produced everywhere by the success of the sons of 
liberty in 1776, It is sufficient to say that there is no 
country where it has not been felt and no people who 
have not experienced its benefits. It is glory enough for 
us when we recall the great aid North Carolina gave to 
that struggle and the important part that the battlefield 
now before us played in that grand contest. 

But we must remember that important as was that 
struggle and far reaching as its effects, the result was not 
a finality. It was one of those upheavals which mark a 
distinct phase of human progress. But other struggles 
and other upheavals are as surely before us. In the life 
of a people as in the life of the individual man there must 
be either progress or decline. There is no political Gib- 
eon upon which the sun of progress can pause for an 
hour. It must be remembered that principles which are 
now so undeniable as to be commonplace were bitterly 
contested and by many despised prior to the successful 
issue of our Revolutionary struggle. It must be reflected, 
too, that there are principles now denied or derided, which 
after the next great advance of the race will become ax- 
iomatic in like manner. The man who lives only to 
gratify his vanity and selfishness by amassing riches for 
himself will go down, as he deserves, to the "vile dust 
from whence he sprung unwept, unhonored and unsung." 
But the soldiers of human progress, whether Washing- 
tons, Jefifersons or the nameless heroes who fall by the 



34 

wayside or fill unmarked graves on the battlefield have 
nobly fulfilled their duty and deserve an immortality of 
fame and never ending gratitude. Nay more — they de- 
serve to have their example not merely recounted on 
battlefields already won, but followed on the new heights 
yet to be won and upon which the successive battles of 
progress must be fought. The contest may be a long 
one and the road winds up hill all the way — aye, to the 
very end. Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Davie and 
their compeers should remain in perpetual acclaim for 
their fidelity and their courage in maintaining the cause 
in their day and at the stage at which the contest had 
then reached. They who wish to imitate their glory will 
be the true heirs of their deeds and in their own times 
and according to their opportunity will faithfully and un- 
falteringly uphold, with the courage of the battlefield or 
of the forum as the occasion may serve those principles 
which shall best serve the glory of the State and 
the greatest good of the greatest number of that peo- 
ple among whom Providence has seen fit to cast 
their lot. Humanity has triumphs yet to win; great 
progress yet to make. Old foes abound but with new 
faces. To those who have " stomach for the fight" there 
are surely laurels yet to gain, and fields still to conquer. 
The Revolution of 1688 in England was better and 
therefore more lasting than that of Cromwell's time, as 
that in turn had itself been more comprehensive than any 
previous movement. Our own Revolution in 1776 far 
outstripped in its importance to the human race the rev- 
olution of 1688. The military successes of the war were 
consolidated by the consumate statesmanship and patriot- 
ism of the Constitution of 1787. But even that instru- 
ment, grand as it was, was not perfect. It was amended 
by the generation that made it. Other amendments have 
since followed and others still will assuredly be made. 



35 

I cannot leave this* platform and this occasion without 
saying some words to the future rulers of my country. 
Young men-;— you who are to shape the near-at-hand 
Twentieth Century, the heights are before you. Who of 
you will comprehend the duties ot the hour; who of you 
have the eagle eye to discover and the iron tenacity to 
follow the paths by which the mountains which bar future 
progress may be won? Who of you like the men of 1776 
scorning contumely, giving your hours, your fortunes and 
if need be your young lives to the work, will bring hu- 
manity out upon a higher plane of progress. It is given 
to no mortal man but yourself to syllable the noble 
names among you which are not born to die — for each 
one of you must make your own election of the pathway 
that leads to the stars. God alone in his wisdom can 
give you success. 

My task is done. Honor to Davie and the men who 
with him on this field periled life that we might be freer 
and better and happier; and honor and fame to those of 
this day, who, understanding the nobility of the self-sac- 
rifice of these men, and catching their spirit, shall, as 
God give them time and opportunity, so act that posteri- 
ty, looking back, shall say of them that they likewise 
came up to the full stature of these heroes of 1776. 



36 

Note. — The following memorandum of •C}eneial Davie's descen- 
dants is furnished by one of them. It is typical of the times and 
the hatred of the British that so accomplished a man as General 
Davie should have named one of his sons after the -Indian tyrant, 
Ali, simply because he was an enemy of Great Britain : 

GENERAL DAVIE'S FAMILY. 

1. Allen Jones, Major in the war 1812. His descendants: 

1. Dr. William R. Davie, Surgeon Florida war, 1838. 

His descendants — Colonel William R. Davie, Capt. 
60th Ala. Reg't C. S. A.; John M. Davie and Mary 
F. Woolf, Texas; Allen J. Davie, dec'd. 

2. Allen J. Davie, Oregon, died leaxang several issue. 

3. Sarah, m'd, first, H. B. DeSaussure; second, Burton, 
Kentucky. 

4. Rosa B. McKenzie, widow of John McKenzie, Louis- 
ville, Ky. 

5. Octavia, widow of Hudson, Louisville, Ky. 

6. Mary Fraser, wife of Edward McCrady, Charleston, 
S. C. 

7. Thos. W. Davie, dec'd, leaving one son. 

2. Hyder Ali, died leaving only one child — a daughter — 

Julia, married R. S. Bedon, fi'om whom numerous 
descendants. 

3. Mary Hayne, married Crockett, issue, Texas. 

4. Sarah Jones, married Hon. Wm. F. DeSaussure, had 

issue. Col. Wm. D. DeSaussure, Col. 15 S. C. Reg't, 
killed Gettysburg, without issue. Mrs. DeSaussure 
left numerous descendants through her daughters, 
Mrs. Boykin and Mrs. Burroughs, of S. C. 

5. Martha Rebecca, married Dr. C. B. Jones, left issue, 

C. B. Jones, of Lancaster, S. C, and Mr. Fraser of 
Charleston. Numerous descendants. 

6. Frederick William Davie, died without issue. 

5 6 9 • . 






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